Busy Philipps testified about reproductive rights, and she expertly shut down a congressman who questioned her

When several states passed new, frighteningly restrictive abortion laws in May, Busy Philipps spoke out. The actress shared her own abortion story on her talk show, Busy Tonight, and encouraged others to share their experiences with the hashtag #YouKnowMe. On Tuesday, June 4th, Philipps continued her advocacy by testifying before Congress about reproductive rights.

According to HuffPost, Philipps began her testimony by recounting the abortion she had as a 15-year-old in Arizona. She noted that 15-year-olds seeking the procedure in the state now face several obstacles: they have to obtain parental consent, undergo an ultrasound, and give the state a reason for the procedure, among other steps. Philipps then discussed the response to her personal story and the #YouKnowMe hashtag on social media, pointing out that banning abortion will not stop people from seeking it out.

“Abortion is health care and should not be treated as different from any other health care,” Busy said.

"I am so sad that we have to sit here in front of a row of politicians and give deeply personal statements," she continued. "Because the 'why' doesn’t matter. It should not matter. I am a human being that deserves autonomy in this country that calls itself free, and choices that a human being makes about their own bodies should not be legislated by strangers who can’t possibly know or understand each individual’s circumstances or beliefs."

We 💯 agree: "It is my body, not the state's. Women and their doctors are in the best position to make informed decisions about what is best for them. No one else." — @BusyPhilipps #StopTheBans #YouKnowMe

Watch her full testimony: pic.twitter.com/2e5wiI6wde

— Planned Parenthood Action (@PPact) June 4, 2019

Philipps’s powerful words didn’t deter abortion opponents from challenging her, though. CNN reports that Representative Louie Gohmert, a Texas Republican, invited testimony from Melissa Ohden, who founded the Abortion Survivors Network and survived a botched abortion in 1977. After Ohden spoke, Gohmert asked Philipps if she felt that other survivors of abortion have “a right once [they’re] born to life.”

Philipps eventually responded: "I don't believe that a politician's place is to decide what's best for a woman—it's a choice between a woman and her doctor."

Gohmert countered, “What about a baby and the doctor?” He later clarified, “I just wondered how far your feeling about that went. Because once she’s born, would you agree that she is a person in being?”

But Philipps shut him down.

"I'm not speaking about birth, sir," she replied. "I'm speaking about abortion."

Quite a moment in today's hearing on abortion rights…
@BusyPhilipps: “It’s a choice between a woman and her doctor.”@LouieGohmertTX1: “What about a baby and their doctor?”

Busy: “I’m not speaking about birth, sir, I’m speaking about abortion.”https://t.co/OU46944o0r

— Matt Wilstein (@mattwilstein) June 4, 2019

As always, we’re grateful to Philipps and other advocates who are standing up for reproductive rights. All people should be able to make their own decisions about their bodies. If you feel strongly about this issue, contact your elected officials or consider donating to a pro-choice organization.